Mike’s Organic Topsoil

Thirty years ago, Mike Marburger opened an irrigation business in Florida, aptly named Irrigation by Mike, to earn extra income while he was employed full-time at the St. Lucie West Services District Water Plant. The venture quickly proved profitable, and he decided to invest fully into the irrigation industry. Steady growth ensued until the economic downturn in 2008, forcing him to pivot the focus of his operations.

“About that time, I noticed that county dumps didn’t have anywhere to put their yard waste,” explained Mike. “I had some heavy equipment from the irrigation business and 400 acres of land, so I came up with the idea of recycling that material instead of letting it go to waste. It was a win-win situation.”

Mike’s Organic Topsoil was born and achieved success much like the owner’s first business. Material is trucked in from as far away as Miami and West Palm Beach to his site in Port St. Lucie. There, it breaks down through the years before completely decomposing and eventually being sold as organic topsoil.

“The yard waste is a mixture of everything from hurricane cleanup debris to a homeowner’s tree clippings,” noted Mike. “We don’t use any pesticides or chemicals to break it down – it’s a completely natural process. The end product is an organic, nutrient-rich soil that can be used in all kinds of applications.”

Originally working alongside his son, Michael Jr., and then later his father, Larry, and brother, Todd, the company has grown from two to 11 employees. Two operators, Randy Garren and Jason Mobley, have been with Mike for 20 years, dating back to the irrigation firm. Retaining long-term staff is one key to the organization’s progress.

“Almost everyone at the company has been here more than five years,” said Mike. “Although we are busy 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, the guys arrive with smiles on their faces and do their jobs the right way. What we do is hard work, so I try to create a family environment where each person is respected and valued. The company’s achievements are a testament to the effort everyone has put in along the way.”

Fine-tuning the soil

Mike’s Organic Topsoil accepts more than 50 truckloads of material and sells up to 300 yards of topsoil every day to various companies and area residents. Local, state and federal agencies also depend upon Mike’s company, usually bringing it material following a natural disaster.

“We work closely with FEMA after a hurricane,” explained Mike. “We’ll take on as much as possible to assist in the recovery process. We’re a small piece of the puzzle, and we do what we can to help.”

Accepting large quantities of material means that Mike is not always sure what chemicals or pesticides the yard waste may have been exposed to. The lengthy decomposition process, however, removes any inorganic compounds and creates a healthy and chemical-free finished product.

“There are several steps to removing the chemicals and breaking down the larger items,” explained Mike. “The yard waste is compacted into rows, which causes the interior to naturally heat up and begin decomposing. Bacteria, worms and centipedes then consume larger bits of wood and bark until it rains and cools everything down. The process repeats many times throughout the cycle, effectively removing any pesticides along the way. We also test everything four times a year to guarantee quality.”

Mike compares creating the finished topsoil to fine-tuning the details on a race car.

“Some drivers want nitrous, a spoiler or bigger tires on their car,” he explained. “With soil, you can have different pH levels, larger pieces of wood to hold moisture or more sand. Our soil is like the perfect base model for the car, capable of supporting a variety of applications.”

In addition to organic topsoil, the company sells various mulches and fill material. “Whether someone wants to fill in a patch with partially decomposed wood or get a layer of topsoil for a garden, we can provide it,” said Mike. “Local residents appreciate purchasing quality material at a very reasonable price.”

Reliable equipment

When Mike needs new equipment, he turns to Linder Industrial Machinery and Sales Rep Dan Tafoya for Komatsu excavators, dozers, loaders and trucks. They have worked together since Dan first visited the busy operation three years ago.

“It was fate that Dan appeared when he did,” recalled Michael Jr. “We were consistently struggling to keep some competitive brand machines running when Dan stopped by and said he sold Komatsu equipment. After testing a Komatsu dozer once, we could tell the difference in quality.”

The firm bought the dozer, and with Dan’s assistance has built a fleet that includes a PC170LC-11 excavator, two PC210LC-11 excavators, three WA270-8 wheel loaders and a HM300-5 articulated truck.

“The HM300-5 is our newest piece of equipment,” said Michael Jr. “We are very happy with the way it has performed – from fuel economy to limited downtime – it has been an important asset in helping our business run reliably. Our biggest strengths are our equipment and the people who operate it.”

Mike’s Organic Topsoil relies on the PC210LC-11 excavators to keep the fire lanes clear as material is distributed throughout the facility. Fixed thumbs are attached to the excavator buckets, enabling the machines to grab larger pieces of debris, which speeds up the clearing process.

“I’ve operated PC210s for years, and they are hands-down the best pieces of equipment I have ever run,” noted Michael Jr. “They have excellent reach and visibility, which makes creating the piles and moving the material much easier. The controls are common-sense and aid in that process as well.”

The reliability and durability of the machines make the decision to stick with Komatsu an easy one for Mike.

“Komatsu is number one in my book – top-notch on everything,” stated Mike. “The machines are virtually issue-free, and the service from Linder is excellent. If something comes up, a shop technician arrives that day; we couldn’t ask for better service.”

The company’s Tier 4 equipment also includes complimentary scheduled maintenance for the first three years or 2,000 hours through the Komatsu CARE program.

“A Linder shop technician calls ahead of time to let me know when a piece of equipment is due for maintenance,” said Mike. “They arrange the service around our schedule to limit downtime. It’s a good feeling to go home at night knowing my oils are changed and the machines are greased, blown out and taken care of 100 percent of the time. That’s what keeps us rolling.”

Expansion plans

Mike’s facility has reached the point where he will have to turn away materials if the current lot gets too full. He plans to purchase adjacent property to expand and open stores closer to town to provide easier access for local residents.

“I’d like to open some stores along U.S. Highway 1 and in town, so people don’t have to drive as far west,” said Mike. “There are many opportunities to expand; however, we want to be smart in how we accomplish it.”

Like his father, the younger Marburger has an entrepreneurial spirit and hopes to continue in the business.

“After seeing my father have everything and then lose it in 2008, I decided that I wanted to be a part of his success in rebuilding the business,” recalled Michael Jr. “It’s exciting to follow in his footsteps. The sky is the limit for the company.”

Linder offers a wide variety of new, used and rental equipment. Construction products, excavators, dozers, trucks, wheel loaders, milling machines, pavers, brooms and so much more. Linder Industrial Machinery provides an extensive OEM parts inventory, remanufactured exchange components, aftermarket parts for all makes of equipment, used parts, complete undercarriage rebuilding equipment, and a professional staff of Customer Support experts. Linder Industrial Machinery has branches in North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. They are conveniently located near the areas of Arden, Aurora, Concord, Greenville, Greensboro, Raleigh, Wilmington, West Columbia, Ladson, Greer, Fort Mill, South Jacksonville, Orlando, Plant City, Ocala, Fort Myers, and West Palm Beach.